Freedom and happiness on Living Streets’ Tranquility Walk

July 18th, 2011 by Richard Lord

Fifty-three people took part in the second annual Living Streets Guernsey Tranquility Walk.

The walk was in aid of Living Streets Guernsey and their funding of the Baubigny School Pathway.

Some of the Living Streets Tranquility Walk participants walk from the coast into the countryside (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

This year’s walking route devised by Living Streets Guernsey Chairman Tom Le Pelley showed off the beauty of Castel parish. Participants met by the flag poles across the coastal road from La Grande Mare Hotel on beautiful Vazon bay. The blustery weather stayed dry and the strength of the wind kept most walkers cool in the intermittent sunshine.  Walkers headed inland from La Grande Mare following a gently rising narrow country lane by the side of the golf course.

View over La Grand Mare golf course towards Grand Rocques (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Walkers chatted amiably and enjoyed views of Guernsey’s west coast.  They were soon in the heart of rural Guernsey.

In a clearing of a woodland path a ram was moving between enclosures (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

They walked along tree-lined lanes.  In a clearing, suddenly and unexpectedly, a ram appeared that was being moved by a farmer between enclosures.  It ran up the lane the walkers had just come down.  The farmer said the ram would return.  While the middle of the group saw the ram, the leading walkers reported coming across a cloud of butterflies.

Walkers joined the empty main road by the water works (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Most of the Tranquility Walk was on tracks, footpaths and narrow lanes but occasionally walkers joined a main road for a short distance.

A horse observed us walking by (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

We crossed a valley floor (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Crossing a parish border (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

A 1910 plaque marked a parish border.

Tree covered lanes (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

People walked at varying speeds. They formed informal groups, chatted, and then joined others. Several people brought their dogs.

Enchanting farm house (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

The walking route took us down mainly forgotten stone-paved footpaths and tracks between fields.

Moulin des Niots dates from 1674 (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Walkers passed the Moulin des Niots, which dates from 1674.

A field of maize (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Although Guernsey is densely populated there are many rural views and fields of crops.

RunKeeper application on an iphone (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

After five miles some walkers stopped at the Saumarez Park Tea Rooms for refreshments.  Thu-Nguyet recorded her journey using the RunKeeper application on her iphone.

Tranquility Walkers saw two Guernsey donkeys on their journey. Naploeon is at the Saumarez Park folk museum (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

According to Thu-Nguyet’s Runkeeper application, the Tranquility Walk was 6.82 miles.  Click the map below to view more statistics on the walk including approximate calories burned and the altitude traversed.

(click on map to go to RunKeeper Tranquility Walk statistics and map page)

Living Street’s Tranquility Walk was a great pleasure.  The company and the scenery made it so, and the pleasure was over all too quickly.  Now there is the recollection of a happy afternoon filled with companionship and good conversation, and the memory of the sights and sounds, and the feel of the breeze, and the warmth of the sun, and the dampness of the air in shaded lanes.

What humanity has been doing since the dawn of time – walking – gives one freedom – and wholesome happiness to be connected to, and a part of, our outdoor environment.